Bible Discussion Thread

To my Brother T. J. van Braght (1625-64) by P. van Braght:

A zeal and heavenly desire pervades the inspired strings

Of David's harp, whose tuneful chords a mournful feeling brings;

When fear of death was strong within, those strains from Zion roll,

In psalms to demonstrate his grief and gloominess of soul.

Such zeal, O brother, did I see from thee, like flashes burst,

As thou the Christian martyrs' death and steadfast faith rehearsed:

Even at the very time when sore afflicted, thou didst lie,

And thou didst seem to realize thou must shortly die.

Wilt thou not save that care and zeal which thou dost now exhaust,

And cease awhile that sacrifice, which all thy strength has cost?

And with the sick and weak awhile from active service hold,

In which, as I have said, thou jas engaged with zeal untold.

Yet, well I know that thou, like Christ, must ever onward go,

And teach the world the word of God, while traveling here below,

To show the world what we shall bear, and what the martyrs bore:

Thou wast, by studying God's blest word, impelled to work the more.